Physical therapy machine

ABSTRACT

A physical therapy machine includes a number of different manipulating means for attachment to various parts of the body of a patient who is to receive physical therapy. The machine includes a frame, a wheel rotatably mounted on the frame, and an electric motor which is connected by gear reduction means and clutch means to the wheel. The wheel is provided with openings at varying distances from its axis of rotation, and a cable can be attached to the wheel by means of the openings. The other end of the cable is attached to the particular manipulating means which is to be used, and as the wheel is rotated by the motor, the end of the cable which is attached to the wheel moves eccentrically about the rotational axis of the wheel so that the other end of the cable is reciprocated to move the manipulating means. The various manipulating means include manipulators for oscillating the patient&#39;&#39;s head from side to side, for raising and lowering his legs or arms and for extending and retracting his fingers.

United States Patent [1 1 Graves et al.

1 1 PHYSICAL THERAPY MACHINE [76] Inventors: Milton W. Graves, PO. Box 138; Joseph W. Spivey, Rt. 5, Box 91. both of Lake Wales. Fla. 33853 [22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.; 411,647

Primary E.tuminer-Lawrence W. Trapp 1451 July 15, 1975 [5 7] ABSTRACT A physical therapy machine includes a number of different manipulating means for attachment to various parts of the body of a patient who is to receive physical therapy. The machine includes a frame, a wheel rotatably mounted on the frame, and an electric motor which is connected by gear reduction means and clutch means to the wheel. The wheel is provided with openings at varying distances from its axis of rotation and a cable can be attached to the wheel by means of the openings. The other end of the cable is attached to the particular manipulating means which is to be used and as the wheel is rotated by the motor the end of the cable which is attached to the wheel moves eccen trically about the rotational axis of the wheel so that the other end of the cable is reciprocated to move the manipulating means. The various manipulating means include manipulators for oscillating the patients head from side to side. for raising and lowering his legs or arms and for extending and retracting his fingers.

5 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL I 51975 s h 62 22 H62 3 A 49 1! 37 6o 36 ml o 41 angst-FF JUL '1 5 1975 SHEET FIG.6

I FIGJ PHYSICAL THERAPY MACHINE BACKGROUND This invention relates to a physical theraphy machine. Many patients must undergo physical therapy for the treatment of various injuries or diseases. However. the services of a trained physical therapist can be quite expensive. particularly when therapy is required for prolonged periods of time. Further, therapy is often available only in a hospital or other institution.

The use of a machine to provide automatic physical therapy rather than depending upon manual therapy is therefore often quite desirable. Some of the advantages of using a machine to provide therapy are lower costs for the therapy, uniform manipulation over a prolonged period of time with little or no variation. availability of therapy in the home, etc.

SUMMARY The invention provides a physical therapy machine which can manipulate various parts of the body smoothly and slowly to provide uniform continuous therapy for as long as desired. Once the machine is set up, the therapy can continue without the necessity of an attendant, and the patient will be provided with the desired therapy automatically. The machine utilizes crank means in the form ofa wheel to provide a smooth reciprocation to a cable which is attached to a manipulating device. The rotational speed of the wheel can be varied by selecting an appropriate gear reduction between the driving motor and the wheel. and power is transmitted gradually to the wheel when manipulation begins by a clutch. The amount of reciprocation provided to the cable can be varied as desired by connecting the cable to a selected one of a plurality of openings which are provided through the wheel at various distances from the axis of rotation thereof. Each of the manipulating devices which are operated by the cable are designed to provide safe, continuous, uniform, and comfortable manipulation to a particular portion of the patients body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa physical therapy machine formed in accordance with the invention with a head therapy device mounted on the front frame;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the machine with the manipulating device removed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the machine providing head therapy to a patient;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line of 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the crank wheel;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views showing a patient receiving arm therapy;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the roller support mechanism for supporting the cable;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the roller support mechanism mounted on the frame;

FIG. I2 is a perspective view of a manipulating device for providing arm therapy;

FIG. I3 is a perspective view showing the manipulating device of FIG. 12 applied to the arm of a patient;

FIG. I4 is a perspective view illustrating leg therapy;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the manipulating device for providing leg therapy;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating finger therp):

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line I7-17 of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the manipulating device for providing finger therapy.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. I-4 the numeral 20 designates generally a physical therapy machine which includes a frame 21 which is provided with casters or wheels 22 for rolling the frame into a desired location. The frame includes three tubular base members 23, 24. and 25 which are supported by the casters. a pair of upright tubular members 26 and 27, and three upper tubular members members 28. 29 and 30 which are secured to the upright members. As can be seen best in FIG. 4, a pair of parallel tubular members 31 and 32 extend between the tubular members 28 and 30 adjacent the outer ends thereof. The tubular members are advantageously formed of metal pipe or other material and are welded or otherwise suitably secured so that the upper portion of the frame provided by the tubes 28-32 extends horizontally even though supported only by the uprights 26 and 27.

A drive support platform 35 (FIG. 4) is mounted on the tubes 29 and 31 and supports an electric motor 36, a clutch assembly designated generally by the numeral 37, and a crank wheel 38. The support platform can be provided with suitable locking means for securing the platform to the tubes 29 and 31 at any desired position therealong, and the platform can be advanced or retracted along the tubes by an elongated screw 39 which is rotatably supported by brackets 40 on the end tube 30. The screw is threadedly engaged with a nut attachment on the bottom of the platform. and the screw can be rotated by a crank handle 41 to move the platform along the tubes.

The motor 36 includes a drive shaft 43, and a sprocket 44 is mounted on the end of the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A shaft 45 is rotatably mounted on the support plate 35 by a pair of brackets 46 and 47. and the clutch assembly 37 is mounted on the shaft 45. The clutch assembly includes a sprocket 48 through which the shaft 45 extends, and the drive sprocket 44 and the sprocket 48 are connected by a chain 49.

The clutch assembly also includes a clutch 50 which is mounted on the shaft 45 and. in the embodiment illustrated. is a conventional Dodge rolling grip clutch for transmitting power from the sprocket 48 to the shaft 45. When the clutch is disengaged, the sprocket 48 idles freely on the shaft 45, but when the clutch is engaged the sprocket 48 is effectively coupled to the shaft 45 to rotate the shaft. A sprocket 52 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 45 for rotation therewith.

The crank wheel 38 is mounted on a shaft 54 which is journaled in the bracket 46 and another bracket 55 on the support platform. A sprocket 56 is secured to the wheel shaft 54 below the sprocket S2, and the sprockets 52 and 56 are connected by a chain 57. The

crank wheel and the sprocket 56 are secured to the shaft 54 for rotation therewith. as by splined connections. and rotation of the clutch shaft 45 by the drive shaft 43 causes rotation of the driven shaft 54 and crank wheel 38.

As can be seen best in FIG. 7, the crank wheel is provided with a central opening 58 which receives the driven shaft 54 and a plurality of openings 59 which are located at varying distances from the central opening 58. In the particulan embodiment illustrated, the openings 59 are located along a spiral path proceeding outwardly from the center of the wheel, and each hole is located one inch farther from the center of the wheel than the preceeding hole.

The openings 59 in the wheel serve as eccentric attachment means for an elongated cable 60. One end of the cable is secured to the wheel by a bolt 61 and nut 62 (FIG. 2). and the distance of the point of attachment of the cable from the axis of rotation of the wheel can be varied as desired by selecting the appropriate opening 59 through which to insert the bolt 61. As the wheel rotates. the end of the cable which is secured to the wheel rotates eccentrically around the rotational axis of the wheel. The other end of the cable is tensioned by a manipulating device. and as the first end of the cable is rotated by the wheel. the other end of the cable reciprocates the manipulating device.

One particular manipulating device which is intended for manipulating the head and neck of a patient is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2. and 6. The manipulating device 65 includes a subframe 66 which comprises a base plate 67 and an adjusting plate 68 which is adjustably secured to the base plate 66 by an adjusting bolt 69. The base plate 66 is provided with an elongated slot 70 through which the bolt extends. and the position of the adjusting plate 68 on the base plate 67 can be varied by loosening the bolt 69 to permit movement thereof along the slot. Lateral movement of the adjusting plate relative to the base plate is prevented by angles 70 which are secured to the adjusting plate and extend rearwardly over the side edges of the base plate.

The subframe 56 is supported on the tubes 31 and 32 of the frame 21 by pairs of mounting brackets 71 and 72 which extend laterally outwardly from the sides of the subframe. Each bracket 71 is generally L-shaped and is supported by one of the tubes 31 or 32 as shown in FIG. 5. Each bracket 72 comprises a pair of bracket halves 72a and 72b (FIG. 6) which are joined by a bolt 73. and the lower bracket half 72b is supported by a support arm 74 extending from the base plate 67. The bracket halves 72a and 72b of each bracket 72 straddle the tube 31 or 32, and when the manipulating device is located at the desired position along the length of the tubes 31 and 32, the bolts 73 are tightened to clamp the bracket halves about the tubes. The opposite side of the subframe is also provided with brackets 71 and 72 which engage the pipe 31.

A headrest 76 includes a generally semi-cylindrical side wall 77 and a end wall 78, and a shaft 79 is secured to the end wall 78 and extends rearwardly therefrom. The shaft 79 is journaled for rotation in a bushing 80 which is mounted on the lower end of the adjusting plate 68. The particular headrest illustrated includes a sponge rubber lining 81 and a metal outer shell or cas ing 82.

A lever arm 84 is pivotally mounted on a support shaft 85 which extends from the adjusting plate 68. One

end of the lever arm is connected to the headrest 76 by a rigid link 86, which is secured to the headrest laterally outwardly from the shaft 79, and the other end of the lever arm is resiliently biased downwardly by a coil spring 87 which is also secured to a spring-mounting bracket 88 on the adjusting plate. The end of the cable is secured to the lever arm 84 adjacent the end to which the spring 87 is attached, and the cable extends upwardly from the lever arm over a pulley 89 to the crank wheel. The pulley 89 is rotatably mounted on one of the brackets 71 by a bracket 90 (F168. 5 and 6).

The cable 60 is tensioned by the spring 67 which exerts a downward force on one end of the lever arm 84, and as the end of the cable which is attached to the wheel is rotated away from the pulley 89, the end of the lever to which the spring is attached is pivoted upwardly. This pivoting movement of the lever pivots the headrest by means of the link 86 to manipulate the head and neck of the patient. As the end of the cable which is attached to the wheel reaches its farthest point away from the pulley 89 and passes over the center of rotation over the wheel. the spring 87 begins to return the lever arm 84 to its original position. This causes the link 86 to be raised and the headrest 76 begins to pivot in the opposite direction. The patients head is therefore oscillated or rocked from side to side as the crank wheel rotates and the cable wheel 60 is reciprocated.

The cable is secured to the opening 59 in the crank wheel which will provide the desired reciprocation of the cable and consequent oscillation of the headrest. For example, an opening which is spaced two inches from the center of the wheel will provide a total reciprocation of the end of the cable of four inches.

ln order to be sure that the lever arm 84 is oscillated on equal amount about its horizontal position an adjustable stop bolt 91 is secured to the adjusting plate 68 in a slot 92 (FIG. 2). The position of the stop bolt 91 in the slot 92 is adjusted so that maximum downward movement below horizontal of the end of the lever arm to which the spring is attached is one-half of the oscilla tion which will be provided by reciprocation of the cable.

The effective length of the cable can be increased or decreased as necessary to permit attachment of the cable to the desired opening either by adjusting the position of the platform along the tubular frame members 29 and 31 by the adjusting screw 39 (FIG. 4) or by using a cable long enough to be attached to any opening and eliminating any undesired slack in the cable by looping an intermediate portion of the cable and securing the loop with a cable clamp.

The manipulating device is intended to be supported on the bed on which the patient is reclining, and for this purpose a support plate 93 is attached to the bottom of the adjusting plate. When the physical therapy machine is to be used to manipulate the head and neck of a patient, the machine is wheeled in place adjacent the bed B on which the patient P is reclining as shown in FIG. 5. The adjusting plate 68 is adjusted relative to the base plate 67 until the support plate 93 is supported by the bed and the adjusting bolt 69 is then tightened.

After the patients head is placed in the cradle-like headrest 76. the motor 36 is turned on to drive the sprocket 48. The clutch is disengaged before the motor is turned on. and the clutch is gradually engaged with the sprocket 48 to gradually transmit power to the shaft 45 until the clutch is fully engaged. The relative sizes of the sprockets 48 and 44 can be selected to provide the desired rotational speed to the crank wheel which will provide a smooth. comfortable oscillation to the headrest. if desired. additional speed reduction canbe provided by the sprockets 52 and 56. Once the machine is set to provide the desired manipulation, the machine will manipulate the patients head and neck continuously, smoothly, and uniformly.

Another manipulating device 95 is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The manipulating device 95 is a wriststrap or wrapping device one end of which is provided with straps 96 and the other end of which is provided with buckles 97. The wrist strap can be wrapped around the wrist of a patient and the straps 96 can be secured to the buckles 97 as illustrated in FIG. 13. A D ring 98 is secured to the wrist strap by a strap 99, and the cable 60 of the machine may be attached to the D ring to provide arm therapy as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

A pulley support mechanism 101 (FIGS. and 11) is used with the arm manipulator for supporting the cable. The pulley support mechanism includes a support bracket 102 which straddles the tubular frame members 31 and 32 and a pair of pulleys 103 and 104 which are rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced-apart bars 105 and 106 which are secured to the bottom surface of the support bracket and extend transversely thereto. One end of the support bracket 102 is curved or C shaped as at 107 and extends around the tube 31, and the other end ofthe support bracket includes a pair of spaced-apart downwardly extending bars 108 and 109 which straddle the frame member 32. A locking screw 110 extends through the bar 109 to secure the pulley mechanism at the desired position along the frame members 31 and 32.

The cable 60 is reeved over one of the pulleys 103 and 104 before it is secured to the wrist band 95, and the upper end of the cable is secured to the crank wheel at the opening which provides the desired reciprocation of the cable. The cable is tensioned by the weight of the patients arm, and as the point of attachment of the crank wheel moves away from the pulley, the arm is raised as shown in FIG. 9. As the cable passes over center, the patients arm is allowed to return downwardly. 1n the illustration given, the arm is manipulated from a position in which the forearm extends upwardly to a position in which the entire arm extends upwardly. but it will be appreciated that manipulation will begin when the entire arm extends horizontally along the bed.

Another manipulating device 115 is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and and includes a leg sling or wrapping device 116 and a roller support platform 117. The sling 116 includes a calf portion 118 and a foot portion 119, and a pair of rollers 120 are rotatably secured to the sling adjacent the heel portion by a shaft 121. Attach ing straps 122 and 123 extend laterally outwardly from the sling adjacent one end of the sling, and attaching straps 124 and 125 extend outwardly from the foot por tion of the sling. The straps 122 and 123 are provided with suitable attaching means such as Velcro hookand-loop strips 126 and the straps 124 are equipped with buckles 127. Lifting straps 128 extend outwardly from the upper end of the sling. and D rings 129 are secured to the lifting straps.

The sling is attached to the leg of a patient by means of the attaching straps 122-125 so that the calf portion 118 extends along the calf of the leg and the foot is positioned in the foot portion 119. The lifting straps 129 will thereby be" positioned approximately under the knee, and the cable 160 passes downwardly from the roller mechanism 101 to the D rings 129. The roller support platform 117-is positioned on the bed below the rollers toreduce rolling friction. As the crank wheel reciprocates the cable 60. the knee of the patient is raised and lowered and the rollers 120 move back and forth over the roller platform.

A hand therapy or manipulating device 131 is illustrated in FIG. 16 and includes a glove 132 and a roller support platform 133. The glove 132 has four fingers 134 and a pair of attaching straps 135 and 136 which are provided with a suitable attaching means such as Velcro hook-and-loop fasteners 137. The ends of the fingers are secured to a rod 138.

The roller support platform 133 includes a flat base 140, a pulley 141 which is rotatably mounted by a pair of L-shaped brackets 142. and a hand support rod 143 which is supported above the platform by support posts 144. One end of the support platform is provided with a slot 145, and an adjusting screw 146 extends into the slot through the end of the platform. A coil spring 147 is secured to the end of the adjusting screw and is attached to the attaching ring 139 on the rod 138.

The hand manipulator is used by inserting the patients fingers into the finger portions of the glove and securing the glove by means of the attaching straps. The spring 147 is then secured to the hook 139. and the tension of the spring is adjusted by the adjusting screw 146 so that the patient's fingers extend naturally and comfortably around the finger support rod as shown in FlG. 17. The cable 60 is also attached to the hook 139 and the other end of the cable is attached to the desired opening in the crank wheel. As the crank wheel rotates, reciprocation of the cable extends the fingers from the configuration illustrated in solid in FIG. 17 to the position illustrated in phantom at 134 in FIG. 17.

Regardless of the particular manipulating device used, the physical therapy machine will provide mechanical therapy which is continuous, uniform, and comfortable to the patient. Since the machine operates automatically. there is no need for an attendant, and an on-off switch for the motor can be positioned near the patient so that he can discontinue therapy when desired.

The particular therapy machine illustrated includes speed reduction and drive means in the form of sprockets and endless chains. However, it will be understood that other speed reduction means can also be used such as gears, belts and pulleys, etc.

Further, brake means can be mounted on the support plate 35 for cooperation with either the shaft 45 or the shaft 54 to prevent rotation of these shafts and therefore the crank wheel when the clutch is disengaged. This facilitates connection of the cable to the wheel and adjustments of the manipulating device. The brake can be conventional, such as a friction brake.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details hereingiven may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A physical therapy machine comprising a frame, a motor having a rotary drive shaft mounted on the frame, a driven shaft rotatably mounted on the frame. crank means mounted on the driven shaft for rotation therewith, clutch means mounted on the frame. a first sprocket mounted on the drive shaft. second and third sprockets mounted on the clutch means. and a fourth sprocket mounted on the driven shaft. a first chain extending around the first and second sprockets and a second chain extending around the third and fourth sprockets, the clutch means being operable to transmit rotation of the rotary drive shaft to the driven shaft through the sprockets and chains. manipulating means adapted to be attached to a portion of a patients body to receive physical therapy. and cable means connected to the crank means and the manipulating means whereby rotation of the crank means reciprocates the cable means and moves the manipulating means.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which the first sprocket has a smaller diameter than the second sprocket whereby the driven shaft rotates at a slower speed than the rotary drive shaft.

3. The machine of claim 1 in which the crank means comprises a wheel mounted on the driven shaft for rotation therewith the wheel being provided with a plurality of attachment means for the cable means at varying distances from the shaft whereby the amount of reciprocation of the cable means as the wheel rotates may be varied by selectively attaching the cable means to different attachment means.

4. A physical therapy machine comprising a frame, a motor having a rotary drive shaft mounted on the frame, crank means rotatably mounted on the frame and operably connected to the rotary drive shaft for rotation thereby, manipulating means adapted to be attached to a portion of a patients body to receive physical therapy. and cable means connected to the crank means and the manipulating means whereby rotation of the crank means reciprocates the cable means and moves the manipulating means, the manipulating means comprising a subframe, a headrest pivotally mounted on the subframe for oscillating movement, lever arm means pivotally mounted on the subframe for oscillating movement, link means connecting the lever arm means and the headrest for oscillating the headrest when the lever arm is oscillated, the cable means being connected to the lever arm means whereby reciprocation of the cable means causes oscillation of the lever arm means and the headrest.

5. The machine of claim 4 including spring means connected to the subframe and to the lever arm means for tensioning the cable means. 

1. A physical therapy machine comprising a frame, a motor having a rotary drive shaft mounted on the frame, a driven shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, crank means mounted on the driven shaft for rotation therewith, clutch means mounted on the frame, a first sprocket mounted on the drive shaft, second and third sprockets mounted on the clutch means, and a fourth sprocket mounted on the driven shaft, a first chain extending around the first and second sprockets and a second chain extending around the third and fourth sprockets, the clutch means being operable to transmit rotation of the rotary drive shaft to the driven shaft through the sprockets and chains, manipulating means adapted to be attached to a portion of a patient''s body to receive physical therapy, and cable means connected to the crank means and the manipulating means whereby rotation of the crank means reciprocates the cable means and moves the manipulating means.
 2. The machine of claim 1 in which the first sprocket has a smaller diameter than the second sprocket whereby the driven shaft rotates at a slower speed than the rotary drive shaft.
 3. The machine of claim 1 in which the crank means comprises a wheel mounted on the driven shaft for rotation therewith, the wheel being provided with a plurality of attachment means for the cable means at varying distances from the shaft whereby the amount of reciprocation of the cable means as the wheel rotates may be varied by selectively attaching the cable means to different attachment means.
 4. A physical therapy machine comprising a frame, a motor having a rotary drive shaft mounted on the frame, crank means rotatably mounted on the frame and operably connected to the rotary drive shaft for rotation thereby, manipulating means adapted to be attached to a portion of a patient''s body to receive physical therapy, and cable means connected to the crank means and the manipulating means whereby rotation of the crank means reciprocates the cable means and moves the manipulating means, the manipulating means comprising a subfraMe, a headrest pivotally mounted on the subframe for oscillating movement, lever arm means pivotally mounted on the subframe for oscillating movement, link means connecting the lever arm means and the headrest for oscillating the headrest when the lever arm is oscillated, the cable means being connected to the lever arm means whereby reciprocation of the cable means causes oscillation of the lever arm means and the headrest.
 5. The machine of claim 4 including spring means connected to the subframe and to the lever arm means for tensioning the cable means. 